I walked into Eppes Essen In Livingston NJ and felt like I had entered the gates of Pastrami Heaven! The restaurant was spacious, spotless, and incredibly well maintained.  The service was excellent--our server was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. We ordered the pastrami sandwich, knish, and matzo ball soup, and every item was delicious. The pastrami was tender and flavorful, the knish was perfectly prepared, and the matzo ball soup was comforting and satisfying. A special shout-out to the complementary coleslaw and pickles--they were absolutely outstanding and complemented the meal perfectly. If you're a fan of classic Jewish Delicatessen food or wanting to try somethong new, Eppes Essen is definitely worth a visit. We'll be back! read more

Oy Vey... Fuhgeddaboudit! Listen, I'm Italian, I know what it means to pay for good food. But $31.19 for this pastrami sandwich? Nu, come on! Then another $4 for a Snapple that costs about $2 normally. That's some serious chutzpah right there. The sandwich was small, the pastrami portion was nowhere near a respectable half-pound, and the quality? Oy vey. Nothing special at all. And before anybody gets offended, let's be honest: this ain't Katz's, my friend. If you're gonna charge like Katz's, you better serve like Katz's. For $35, I expect a sandwich that makes me say "mamma mia!" Instead, I'm saying "fuhgeddaboudit." Nu? Never again. read more

I had such high hopes for my experience here. Unfortunately, the chopped chicken liver was bitter. White fish spread was dry and the rugelah was tasteless. The saving grace was the potato knish. read more

Would give no stars but there aren't options. 1. Manager was RUDE, when I called to tell them after arriving at home I was given tuna fish that i didnt ask for (the woman in front of me ordered it), he actually YELLED at me saying "It's a holiday, what do you expect?" I expected a sincere apology, didnt even expect a refund, which woud have been appropriate. 2. Holiday brisket preparation is tasteless. better to get canned food from shop-rite 3. Another neighbor told me she went there and heard him yell at a worker in a derogatory & bigoted tone. I will NEVER enter this store again. read more

Had the pastrami and corned beef and chicken soup. Pretty solid. The pastrami wasn't as good as, say second Avenue deli or Katz's, but still solid. The staff and owner are really nice. Downside is the prices are a bit high and I was really disappointed that when I asked for an extra slice of rye bread, they wouldn't give us one and forced us to buy a few slices for like $4.00. That's not a way to win customers. read more

I had one of the best corned beef sandwiches that I have had in many years. The food was all delicious and the service was wonderful. The owner couldn't have been nicer. read more

After some shopping at the mall this thanksgiving weekend, stopped by for early dinner at Eppes Essen. My first time, nice staff, clean restaurant with plenty of tables. Menu has many options for someone looking for a deli fix. We started with mushroom barley and split pea soups. Server brought us pickles and cole slaw too. Dr Browns for beverages were a must. Split a turkey, corned beef, cole slaw with Russian sandwich and a kasha knish. It was good, not great, not bad, just middle of the road. I am a bit of a deli snob having worked in a deli in Brooklyn in my early years. If you have the craving why not give it a try. The robot server was a shtick to watch as it delivered food to the tables. read more

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Finally finishing a review of Eppes Essen Deli after my 4th or 5th time here. Our most recent visit was simply because my wife NEEDED some good, homemade matzoh ball soup and Eppes Essen makes a GREAT matzoh ball soup. I ordered a sandwich with Turkey, roast beef, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and cole slaw...a Jersey 'Sloppy Joe.' This is my go-to sandwich when I'm really hungry and it's SOOOO good here I may never order anything else. Turkey and roast beef are freshly sliced, the Cole slaw is the best of any diner we go to, and their bread is delicious. We also ordered fries with a side of gravy. They always start you off with pickles and cole slaw so you aren't walking away from this place hungry. We finished by grabbing some small black and white cookies and rugelach. This place isn't cheap, but it's pretty easy to walk away with leftovers - even after stuffing your face. Great food, great service, and it's a really comfortable dining experience. read more

Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant - Delis Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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Food and Ambiance were top-notch. Service missed the mark. Photos of three sloppy sandwiches are included here: Corned Beef, Pastrami, and Roast Beef. They speak for themselves: fresh, generous portions. One half sandwich was plenty for an adult lunch. Jar of pickles and a salad rounded out the meal (see photos). Rugula and cheesecake for dessert (see photos) were an unnecessary but delightful indulgence. Presentation was clean and professional. Sunday mid-day: surprised the place was not busier. We were there for a few hours and a table was always available so - no waiting! Tables and booths were clean. Restroom was clean and well supplied. We bought rugula to go. At $2/each piece, it seemed pricey yet it was consistent with pricing of other items with sandwiches in the $20-$30 range. Service was slow. We were forgotten about it seemed. This required us searching for, and asking for, out server more than once. We waited patiently yet suspect many would not. Positives: Good food, nice atmosphere, clean, plenty of parking, Concerns: Service Overall, for the price service needs to be better. read more

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Overpriced. Decent for only deli in the area. Pastrami good corned beef was better. The bread that falls apart ruins it all. Service better than before. Not really worth it unless you must have. read more

These folks know what they are doing. If you're going to complain about spending a few extra dollars on a pastrami sandwich, clearly quality doesn't matter to you. Everything here is excellent. You get what you pay for - and you get a throw back deli experience here. Did take out tonight to treat my elderly parents to some pastrami and tongue. Order ready when promised. Everything fresh and tasty. Successful Friday night dinner. Five stars well earned, Eppes Essen. read more

Eppes is the #1 Jewish Deli in the USA! I am addicted to their pastrami, pickels and slaw. The deli is super clean and the owner is a very friendly guy who cares about his customers. Although Eppes is "old school," they now have a robot server read more

This place has the very best sandwiches. No where else I know has corned beef and pastrami like this place. All their meats are good.

Quick disclaimer, I have not dined in. A former colleague who previously worked in the area gave a glowing recommendation of Eppes Essen. I was a bit overwhelmed by the extensive menu, but after my partner and I ordered our sandwiches, they were made quickly and efficiently. I have never eaten a sandwich so enormous that did not sacrifice quality for quantity. It was delicious. Stop by on a cheat day, or when you feel like splurging. The prices are not the friendliest toward your wallet, so take with that what you will. read more

Ridiculously overpriced for terrible service. Slow beyond explanation with only 3 other tables of people and with zero communication at the pickup counter. This place has no shot of attracting customers from younger generations as it currently operates. Millburn deli has equivalent food with a great experience. read more

Last week I tried Eppes Essen Deli in Livingston. The food was good and the menu has a range of New York Style Deli sandwiches and other dishes. They have a robot that delivers your food to the table. Even thought it the prices are expensive. This place is a good if you want New York style Jewish deli. read more

I tried this place once before and was disappointed. This time I was very impressed. I was helped pretty quickly. The corned beef is tasty. It came with additional mustard on the side and a small container of three 1/2 pickles, cabbage & peppers. All very tasty. Very clean inside and I had to go here for my once a year corned beef sandwich. I will be back every year and possibly twice a year. Once a year for corned beef and once a year for pastrami. I'd come more but it's expensive and also not the healthiest. I do recommend and will be back. I might come back for dine in too. read more

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$30 deli sandwiches better be worth it and they are here along with the great pickup the broad space place events too. My uncle was actually Bar mitzvahed here. read more

Disappointing overall. My wife and I just moved to the area from the Upper East Side and decided to give this place a try. The prices are comparable if not the same as the Jewish deli's in the city but the sandwiches here are much smaller. Food and service were ok, but the place is a rip off for what you're getting vs what you're actually paying. read more

Here's the deal. It's everything a great deli should be ! Yea it's expensive....sometimes you're just gonna pay for good stuff Helpful hint. Save some of the meat from their massive sandwiches and buy a sliced loaf of Rye at the counter and feed yourself for another 1-2 meals !! read more

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My first visit, I was surprised how big the space is. I was immediately greeted. One chicken sandwich lots of pickles and pics. read more

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Excellent Pastrami & Corned Beef Sandwiches, everything is top quality and great soups, especially the mushroom barley, expensive but you have to go to NYC for better. read more

Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant - Delis Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Prices are reasonable. Should have thicker sandwiches to compete with NYC delis which charge $4 more per sandwich and you get almost 50% more meat. Also my to go sandwich had a two slices of dried out corned beef. read more

ADDED in response to owner Josh's comment: "...our rye bread is from Pechters baking for the last 50 years" Your rye bread may be "from Pechter's for the last 50 years", but the quality of Pechter's rye bread has DECLINED. As you know, Pechter's was sold during Covid. I'm not sure whether this was when the decline started. But the current version speaks for itself, and does not do justice to what authentic rye bread tastes like. The rye bread labeled "Pechter's" now has a soft crust and a mealy texture. It's like white bread with some added flavoring. Perhaps there's another supplier whose approach to baking rye bread is less mass market. ................. I had a late lunch at the restaurant this week -- it was almost empty. The corned beef was ok, but it was more like the mass-produced, pre-cooked corned beef offered at the deli counter in supermarkets. In the old days, Eppes Essen's corned beef looked and tasted like it had been fresh-cooked in the restaurant's kitchen. The "rye bread" -- AWFUL. It tasted nothing like real rye bread. The owner should be ashamed. It's not like the sandwiches are inexpensive. In summary, the owner's cost-cutting measures have taken a big toll on the quality of the food. Based on my experience this week, I will not be going back. read more

Had the most amazing meal yesterday at Eppes Essen. Besides the mushroom barley soup and chicken noodle soup we had blintzes with sour cream which tasted home made and of course there pastrami sandwich with Dr Brown Cel- Ray soda Jeff the manager is a consistent MENCH. He is just a terrific guy and adds to the fun experience of eating at Eppes Essen read more

EVERYTIME, we go there and get takeout we get the wrong order. yesterday we ordered corned beef and got a turkey sandwich, I'm done with them. read more

When I need true Deli and i"m in NJ its got to be Eppes. All the traditional Jewish meats and treats, plenty to choose from but I recommend a sandwich! Be prepared, these sandwiches are legit..! They are not for the timid - they are huge! I ordered the lite side (a smaller portion ) corned beef sandwich . The rye bread was fresh and soft with great flavor.. the corned beef was tender, warm and lean - perfectly seasoned Once again Eppes proved the point, when searching for Deli in Essex County why go anywhere else but Eppes! read more

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Excellent quality, soups are great and they make a good sandwich that is worth the money. My favorite is the corn beef hash which reminds me the way Claremont Diner made it. All the food here is very high end & you pay more for it. Decent waiters and waitresses and now they have a robot that brings food out to your table. They've cleaned the dining area up. read more

They have some nerve charging the prices they charge. I have no problem spending money for food or a delicious sandwich. This was literally pastrami on rye and it was $25. It was a normal size sandwich! And nothing more. They asked me if I wanted it weighed, it made no sense since I had extra things on it. I would never recommend this place to anybody. I only gave them one stars because the pastrami was good. Can't say I've had bad pastrami though. Charging the prices they charge is shameful. This must be a local spot where the same people have been eating at for years. The same suckers that will was $30 on a single sandwich! Shame shame shame. read more

Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant - Pastrami - Delis Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

Very very authentic Jewish deli. Loved getting a pickle jar when we first sat down. Sandwiches are huge and expensive. Splitting a sandwich makes sense. The kasha was fantastic but the 16.99 for a side dish was not a fair price. We had some very, very slow service even though there was hardly anyone in the restaurant. While I did enjoy my meal we were at 70.00 for lunch with tip. Just letting you know. read more

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Food was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. We had the Thanksgiving wrap and every part of it was perfection - though I guess it could have been heated. Ample portion to split the serving. Black and white cookie was also wonderful and service and vibe great. I'd come from Brooklyn just to have food here. Only drawback is price - $20 for a wrap. read more

Not having a robot bringing my food out. I would have left if my husband didn't start eating the pickles.

Pastrami so dry like it was microwaved So disappointed it seem like food is hit or miss depending on who is working Seems like when the regulars aren't working food is terrible read more

Loved everything we ordered, friendly staff, prices a vs little high but will definitely be back

I just ate here. My food was excellent. The pickles and Cole slaw are very tasty. I had a corned beef special and a cup of matzo ball soup. The soup was delicious; the matzo ball itself had good flavor as did the broth. The sandwich was served beautifully and had more of the excellent slaw and excellent Russian dressing. The corned beef itself was delicate and had a nice mild flavor; it was very good. Excellent rye bread. My only issue is that it's expensive. If I lived near here I'd be a regular (visiting area from not too far away) if it were perhaps $10-15 cheaper for what I had today. Worth noting the place is immaculately clean and my service was friendly. read more

The their conditioners are like cakes they Pastrami is dry and I seen nothing great in their food. They are multiple ball is tasteless and I don't know how people have kept this place open for so many years. read more

I had a wonderful Jewish dinner with my family last night. The restaurant looks like it was recently renovated. We all enjoyed great service. I have been going to Eppes over 50 years. read more

I haven't ordered here in a while and decided to tonight. My husband called To put our order in for pick up. The person who answered the phn did not understand any English, my husband had to repeat the order 4 x. When he brought the food home, it just wasn't the same. Not like Eppes. The bread was steel, the split pea soup was full of salt like it only had salt taste to it.. it was not like all the years I have been ordering it. My husband ask for a western omelet​ And got just scrambled eggs with peppers that were out of a jar not fresh. Not home fries, we ask for a arugula salad they said they were out of salad. Nothing was fresh or hot . And what happened to the manager he was fantastic always made sure e.thing was right. And always threw in cookies for us. Im hoping it was an off night because I always loved this place . This review is not to knock the place , just my experience this evening that I had n never had in all the years ordering from them. Hoping things go back to the way they were because this place has a great reputation. Takes the wrong people running it to bring it down. read more

We're really enjoyed eating here. Everything was delicious and served perfectly. You should try it, I don't think you will be disappointed read more

Eppes Essen Deli & Restaurant - Pastrami sandwich - Delis Near Me - Livingston, New Jersey

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My last review was in 3/2020 right before covid shut it all down. So I am back for lunch and this time dining in. The interior is like a country feel setting. Lots of tables and plenty room between seats that you do not feel like your up on anyone. Today was chicken wrap. And they did not disappoint me with there freshness nor the amount of meat in the wrap. This place always has a good seating of customers and those running in and out with take out. The sit in crowd is more older folks that are retired and in no rush to to be anywhere and the take outs are younger crowd going back to the office. For the record. I am just in the younger retired club with time. Lol. Maybe folks complain of the prices but it is worth every bit of the money you will pay. This is not a franchise so to enjoy this. You got to come here. And all I can say is it is worth stopping in. read more

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